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Here are news and opinion stories educators, advocates, policy wonks and makers are talking about today:
News and Analysis
The University of Illinois history professor Steve Hansen didn’t need an academic analysis to tell him his retirement income was at risk in a state struggling to narrow an estimated $111 billion shortfall in its public-employee pension fund. So, in 2012, at 63, Hansen quit his university job to lock in his benefits before they could be watered down. And another 1,007 fellow employees of the university system—twice the number who had left the year before—did the same. (The Atlantic)
The first major televised debate of the 2016 election offered a glimpse into the Republican candidates’ views on a range of issues from the Iran nuclear deal to the economy to abortion. Unfortunately, education was largely off the radar. Few issues are as important to the future of our country as education is, and while Republicans are often hesitant to discuss the federal role in education – beyond curtailing it – they should remember that the most recent Republican president made education a central plank of his successful campaign. (U.S. News)
There’s an assumption that a lot of people have been making about testing in the common-core era that goes something like this: As states have scrambled to roll out high-stakes online exams aligned to the standards, the testing industry has reaped the benefits. Companies have reeled in huge contract after huge contract, creating a frenzy of not just competition but also profit, with taxpayers picking up new, daunting costs amid the gold rush. (Education Week)
Ten California teachers and the Christian Educators Association have sued the California Teachers Association in a case that could eliminate public employee unions’ right to collect fees from all workers. Many observers believe that the case, to be argued before the Supreme Court this fall, could seriously undermine public sector unions nationwide. (The Washington Post)
Online education could be taking a major leap forward on its road to legitimacy. Hillary Clinton is directly courting Silicon Valley in her $350 billion scheme to overhaul higher education, in a plan that may finally bridge the gap between Internet-channeled coursework and accredited higher education. (readwrite.com)
National Nurses United—a 185,000-person union and the largest group of nurses in the country—endorsed Bernie Sanders at their national conference Monday. (CNN)